Perseverance In Homer Hickam's Book 'Rocket Boys'

To fight. To fight even when surrounded, to fight even when enemies surround on all sides, to fight even when death is near, to fight even when it is likely never to see family again, “to try to achieve a particular aim despite difficulties,” perseverance. Perseverance is important, to conquer challenges, achieve dreams, win wars, to live. Homer Hickam’s book, Rocket Boys, should be included as part of the 10th grade curriculum because of its great display of perseverance through the eyes of another, its use of historical context, and marvelous writer's craft.

Throughout the book “Rocket Boys” Homer Hickam displays many useful themes to the readers through stories and events that happen throughout his life. One theme is perseverance, perseverance

Throughout the book, the author uses amazing word choice to help convey a vivid image inside the reader's head. One example is the description of Coalwood. At the beginning of the book, the author describes Coalwood as the town shaking to the crescendo of grinding steel. One surrounded by dense green heavy forests, and a gloom of black and gray from the mine up the road. (Hickam 2) A second example is the launch of Auk I, as it leapt into the air in a shower of sparks, six feet off the slack making a pot sound, falling back in a cloud of gray smoke, landing heavily, and breaking off its nose cone. Hickam 89-90. The author’s use of great word choice throughout the book helps readers paint a vivid picture of the events occurring in the book, allowing them to visualize them, and therefore allowing them to understand the events in the text better. The author also uses symbolism throughout the book to help the reader understand the text further. One example of the author’s use of symbolism in the text is when he uses the rocket that the boys created to help show the boys' desire to break free of the limits they have long been held to in their small town of Coalwood. Homer Hickam describes the boy's first rocket as an arc of fire that was lifted up into the darkness, spewing bright sparks, a beautiful and glorious sight. (Hickam 36-37) The second example is when the author describes the coal mines of Coalwood to show the truly harsh conditions of the small mining town of Coalwood. The author describes the workers coming out of the mine as black with coal dirt and sweat and describes the miners going into the mine as soldiers slogging off to the front. Hickam 9: The author’s use of symbolism helps give a better understanding of things and their importance and helps the reader understand the text better. The author's excellent writer's craft throughout the book makes